Question 1

i have metal screws in my back from a spine fusion. will i be able to go through ametal detector at the airport?

Accepted Answer

Alarm may go off: Surgical plates and screws may be detected by airport passenger scanners, so one should carry a doctor's explanation when traveling, in case an alarm is triggered.

Question 2

if i have aspine fusion surgeryusingmetal screws and rods, will they ever need to be removed?

Accepted Answer

Usually Not: Following successful spine fusion, the instrumentation typically remains.  Conditions such as a deep infection, nonhealing fusion, and on rare occasion, painful/prominent instrumentation may be treated by removal of the instrumentation.

Question 3

i just had screws placed in my ankles after surgery. will it set off the metal detector at the airport?

Accepted Answer

Unlikely...: That you will set off the metal detectors.  My group did the largest study on this and found that no implants set off the gate type detectors, but depending on the size of the hardware they could be detected in some cases by wand-type detectors. The reference is: 

bluman et al(2006): detectability of commonly used foot and ankle implants by security screening devices.  Foot ankle int 26:1096-1102.

Question 4

can loosening screws in spine fusion be dangerous?

Accepted Answer

Yes: The loose body can cause pain or become source of infection or could be asymptomatic

Question 5

plates and screws used in cervical spine fusion. are they designed to last more than 50 years? im so worried im only 30 years. what kinda problems ?

Accepted Answer

Cervical fusion : The plates and screws used in a cervical spine fusion are titanium and will last a lifetime. They are tested at 10 million cycles of stress and are engineered to withstand breakage even in a high speed motor vehicle collision. Your head will not fall off your shoulders.

Question 6

i'm had a spinal fusion surgery for scoliosis and kyphosis  from t2 - l1 and i'm experiencing a large amount of popping and cracking in like all the levels of my fused spine with pedicle screw pain. do i have a failed fusion screw loosening?

Accepted Answer

: You should follow up with your spinal surgeon so that he/she can examine you and diagnosis why you are having these symptoms. You may need x-rays to see what the fusion and hardware look like. So, call your spinal surgeon and get an appointment as soon as possible. Best of luck to you!!

Question 7

why am i having major popping and large cracking throughout my t2-l1 spinal fusion? it feels different then soft tissue catching on the screws like more in the vertebrae joints in my 11 spine levels that i had surgery on. is this failed fusion?

Accepted Answer

: This is an important question for your surgeon to answer .

Question 8

i have a pacemaker and accidently walked through the metal detector at the airport. could my pacemaker unit be damaged?

Accepted Answer

No. : The metal detector does not affect the functioning of a pacemaker. The only thing that will affect it is a strong magnet, which the metal detectors In the airports don't have. You'll be OK no need to panic.

Question 9

if someone has a total hip replacement or other hip surgery that uses some metal, how does this work when going through metal detector @ airport?

Accepted Answer

Need addit screening: Joint repair hardware will likely set off the alarm.  TSA doesn't care about the card that says you have hardware.  You should let them know going in that you have a joint replacement and they will figure out how to screen you, depending on airport.

http://orthopedics.about.com/od/hipkneereplacement/f/metaldetectors.htm

http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/metal-implants

Question 10

i had a spinal fusion a few years ago. do i ever need to go back and have the screws checked? or do they stay in place forever?

Accepted Answer

Yes: You should contact your surgeon and find out when he/she would like to see you.  It is important to have follow-up to assess the fusion and make sure the screws/rods are intact.

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Doctor answers about:

I have metal screws in my back from a spine fusion will i be able to go through a metal detector at the airport

A member asked:

I have metal screws in my back from a spine fusion. will i be able to go through ametal detector at the airport?

A member asked:

If i have aspine fusion surgeryusingmetal screws and rods, will they ever need to be removed?

A member asked:

I just had screws placed in my ankles after surgery. will it set off the metal detector at the airport?

A member asked:

Can loosening screws in spine fusion be dangerous?

A member asked:

Plates and screws used in cervical spine fusion. are they designed to last more than 50 years? im so worried im only 30 years. what kinda problems ?

A member asked:

I'm had a spinal fusion surgery for scoliosis and kyphosis from t2 - l1 and i'm experiencing a large amount of popping and cracking in like all the levels of my fused spine with pedicle screw pain. do i have a failed fusion screw loosening?

A member asked:

Why am i having major popping and large cracking throughout my t2-l1 spinal fusion? it feels different then soft tissue catching on the screws like more in the vertebrae joints in my 11 spine levels that i had surgery on. is this failed fusion?

A member asked:

I have a pacemaker and accidently walked through the metal detector at the airport. could my pacemaker unit be damaged?

A member asked:

If someone has a total hip replacement or other hip surgery that uses some metal, how does this work when going through metal detector @ airport?

A member asked:

I had a spinal fusion a few years ago. do i ever need to go back and have the screws checked? or do they stay in place forever?

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